Abstract: The kneading disc segment according to the present invention comprises plural disc sets each comprising two kneading discs and mounted on a kneading screw (3) which is for kneading a material while feeding the material to a downstream side. Disc sets each comprising a first kneading disc positioned on an upstream side and a second kneading disc, the second kneading disc being mounted continuously with and downstream of the first kneading disc so as to have a phase difference ? of an acute angle relative to the first kneading disc, are disposed continuously in the axial direction of the kneading screw. The first kneading discs in two continuous disc sets have a phase difference of 180°. With this construction, it is possible to attain a higher degree of kneading than in the conventional neutral kneading disc segment.

Abstract: Provided is a kneading degree adjusting apparatus, which can have a wide adjusting range for a kneading degree even if a gate member and a cylindrical segment are not made so close as to invite a fear of metallic contacts. The kneading degree adjusting apparatus is disposed in a kneading treatment equipment, which includes a cylindrical segment formed at a predetermined portion and a kneading screw for kneading a material while feeding the same to the downstream side, thereby to adjust the kneading degree of the material. The kneading degree adjusting apparatus comprises a gate member having an opposed face confronting the outer circumference of the cylindrical segment and moved toward and away from the outer circumference of the cylindrical segment thereby to change the area of the material passage to be formed between the opposed face and the outer circumference of the cylindrical segment. The outer circumference and the opposed face are corrugated to form the passage into a bent shape.

Abstract: Arrangements for inspecting a specimen on which plural patterns are formed; capturing a first image of a first area; capturing a second image of a second area in which patterns which are essentially the same with the patterns formed in the first area; creating data relating to corresponding pixels of the first and second images, for each pixel; determining a threshold for each pixel for detecting defects directly in accordance with the first and second images; and detecting defects on the specimen by processing the first and second images by using the threshold for each pixel and information of a scattered diagram of brightness of the first and second images, wherein the threshold is determined by using information of brightness of a local region of at least one of the first and second images, with the local region including an aimed pixel and peripheral pixels of the aimed pixel.

Abstract: In an extruder or a kneader, load (torque T) values on an input shaft portion of a screw shaft are detected by a load detector installed on the input shaft portion, then an overload condition is determined from a load mean value (Ta) and a load amplitude value (Tw) of the detected load values, and the issuance of an “abnormal” alarm and/or the stop of rotation of the screw shaft are (is) performed when an overload duration time (to) of maintaining the overload condition exceeds a set time (ts). In this way the screw shaft is protected from fatigue fracture caused by application thereto of such a load as does not exceed a designed mechanical strength but causes fatigue fracture.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a kneader which can diminish wear of screws and a barrel while preventing the manufacturing process for the screws and barrel from becoming complicated. In this kneader, a pair of screws are rotated about respective axes thereof to knead a material to be kneaded which is introduced into a kneading space formed within a barrel. Each screw has such a shape generating deflection in a predetermined direction perpendicular to an arranged direction of the axes of the pair of screws during kneading of the material to be kneaded, and the kneading space has a shape such that a pair of accommodating spaces which accommodate each of the screws respectively are connected together so as to overlap each other partially in the radial direction, each accommodating space being formed in such a manner that the diameter thereof in the predetermined direction in which there occurs deflection of each screw is larger than in any other direction.

Abstract: Arrangements for inspecting a specimen on which plural patterns are formed; capturing a first image of a first area; capturing a second image of a second area in which patterns which are essentially the same with the patterns formed in the first area; creating data relating to corresponding pixels of the first and second images, for each pixel; determining a threshold for each pixel for detecting defects directly in accordance with the first and second images; and detecting defects on the specimen by processing the first and second images by using the threshold for each pixel and information of a scattered diagram of brightness of the first and second images, wherein the threshold is determined by using information of brightness of a local region of at least one of the first and second images, with the local region including an aimed pixel and peripheral pixels of the aimed pixel.

Abstract: A method of inspecting patterns, including: adjusting a brightness of at least one of a first bright field image and a second bright field image detected from a specimen and directed to similar patterns on differing parts of the specimen, so as to more closely match a brightness; comparing the images which are adjusted in brightness to match with each other to detect dissimilarities indicative of a defect of the pattern, wherein in adjusting the brightness, the brightness between the first bright field image and the second bright field image is adjusted by performing a gradation conversion of at least one of the brightness between the first bright field image and the second bright field image; and wherein in the comparing, said defect of the pattern is detected by using information of a scattered diagram of brightness of the first bright field image and the second bright field image.

Abstract: Provided is a kneading degree adjusting apparatus, which can have a wide adjusting range for a kneading degree even if a gate member and a cylindrical segment are not made so close as to invite a fear of metallic contacts. The kneading degree adjusting apparatus is disposed in a kneading treatment equipment, which includes a cylindrical segment formed at a predetermined portion and a kneading screw for kneading a material while feeding the same to the downstream side, thereby to adjust the kneading degree of the material. The kneading degree adjusting apparatus comprises a gate member having an opposed face confronting the outer circumference of the cylindrical segment and moved toward and away from the outer circumference of the cylindrical segment thereby to change the area of the material passage to be formed between the opposed face and the outer circumference of the cylindrical segment. The outer circumference and the opposed face are corrugated to form the passage into a bent shape.

Abstract: The degree of kneading of a material to be kneaded is to be capable of being adjusted with a high accuracy. A kneading degree adjusting mechanism is installed in a processing apparatus having a barrel and a kneading screw inserted into the barrel rotatably, the kneading screw having a kneading section and being adapted to rotate within the barrel to knead a material continuously while feeding the material from an upstream side toward a downstream side, the kneading degree adjusting mechanism including a push-back section for pushing back the material to the upstream side and thereby making the material stay around the kneading section, the push-back section being disposed downstream of the kneading section in the kneading screw, a kneading degree adjusting member having an opposed surface opposed to an outer periphery surface of the push-back section, and a drive section for actuating the kneading degree adjusting member so that the opposed surface moves toward and away from the push-back section.

Abstract: The device for adjusting the degree of mixing according to the present invention is installed in mixing equipment equipped with a kneading/mixing screw for mixing material while feeding the material to a downstream side, wherein a gate member is moved relative to a portion of a circular section provided for the kneading/mixing screw so as to cause a change in the area of a flow path formed between the gate member and the portion of a circular section, thereby adjusting the degree of mixing of the material. A drive quantity changing device; is disposed between the gate member and a drive member.

Abstract: The device for adjusting the degree of mixing according to the present invention is installed in mixing equipment equipped with a kneading/mixing screw for mixing material while feeding the material to a downstream side, wherein a gate member is moved relative to a portion of a circular section provided for the kneading/mixing screw so as to cause a change in the area of a flow path formed between the gate member and the portion of a circular section, thereby adjusting the degree of mixing of the material. Drive quantity changing means is disposed between the gate member and drive means.

Abstract: To provide a kneading screw which can reduce such a phenomenon that a disproportional load is imposed onto a shaft of the kneading screw without degrading kneading performance of the kneading screw, a twin screw extruder with the kneading screw, and a method for assembling the kneading screw.

Abstract: A circuit member connection structure 10 according to the invention is provided with circuit members 20,30 having a plurality of circuit electrodes 22,32 formed on the main surfaces 21a,31a of circuit boards 21,31. A circuit connecting member 60 which connects together the circuit members 20,30 with the circuit electrodes 22,32 opposing each other is comprising a cured circuit connecting material of the invention. The circuit connecting material of the invention comprises an adhesive composition and covered particles 50 comprising conductive particles 51 with portions of their surfaces 51a covered by insulating fine particles 52, wherein the mass of the insulating fine particles 52 constitutes 2/1000 to 26/1000 of the mass of the conductive particles 51.

Abstract: The kneading disc segment according to the present invention comprises plural disc sets each comprising two kneading discs and mounted on a kneading screw (3) which is for kneading a material while feeding the material to a downstream side. Disc sets each comprising a first kneading disc positioned on an upstream side and a second kneading disc, the second kneading disc being mounted continuously with and downstream of the first kneading disc so as to have a phase difference ? of an acute angle relative to the first kneading disc, are disposed continuously in the axial direction of the kneading screw. The first kneading discs in two continuous disc sets have a phase difference of 180°. With this construction, it is possible to attain a higher degree of kneading than in the conventional neutral kneading disc segment.

Abstract: A method of inspecting patterns, including: adjusting a brightness of at least one of a first bright field image and a second bright field image detected from a specimen and directed to similar patterns on differing parts of the specimen, so as to more closely match a brightness; comparing the images which are adjusted in brightness to match with each other to detect dissimilarities indicative of a defect of the pattern, wherein in adjusting the brightness, the brightness between the first bright field image and the second bright field image is adjusted by performing a gradation conversion of at least one of the brightness between the first bright field image and the second bright field image; and wherein in the comparing, said defect of the pattern is detected by using information of a scattered diagram of brightness of the first bright field image and the second bright field image.

Abstract: A defect inspecting apparatus includes a sample mounting device for mounting a sample; lighting and detecting apparatus for illuminating a patterned sample mounted on a mount and detecting the optical image of the reflected light obtained therefrom. Also included is a display for displaying the optical image detected by this lighting and detecting apparatus; an optical parameter setting device for setting and displaying optical parameters for the lighting and detecting apparatus on the display; and optical parameter adjusting apparatus for adjusting optical parameters set for the lighting and detecting apparatus according to the optical parameters set by the optical parameter setting apparatus; a storage device for storing comparative image data; and a defect detecting device for detecting defects from patterns formed on the sample by comparing the optical image detected by the optical image detecting apparatus with the comparative image data stored in the storage.

Abstract: In an extruder or a kneader, load (torque T) values on an input shaft portion of a screw shaft are detected by a load detector installed on the input shaft portion, then an overload condition is determined from a load mean value (Ta) and a load amplitude value (Tw) of the detected load values, and the issuance of an “abnormal” alarm and/or the stop of rotation of the screw shaft are (is) performed when an overload duration time (t0) of maintaining the overload condition exceeds a set time (ts). In this way the screw shaft is protected from fatigue fracture caused by application thereto of such a load as does not exceed a designed mechanical strength but causes fatigue fracture.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a kneader which can diminish wear of screws and a barrel while preventing the manufacturing process for the screws and barrel from becoming complicated. In this kneader, a pair of screws are rotated about respective axes thereof to knead a material to be kneaded which is introduced into a kneading space formed within a barrel. Each screw has such a shape generating deflection in a predetermined direction perpendicular to an arranged direction of the axes of the pair of screws during kneading of the material to be kneaded, and the kneading space has a shape such that a pair of accommodating spaces which accommodate each of the screws respectively are connected together so as to overlap each other partially in the radial direction, each accommodating space being formed in such a manner that the diameter thereof in the predetermined direction in which there occurs deflection of each screw is larger than in any other direction.

Abstract: A method of inspecting patterns to detect a defect of the patterns by using information of a scattered diagram of brightness of said first and second images.

Abstract: A defect inspecting apparatus includes a sample mounting device for mounting a sample; lighting and detecting apparatus for illuminating a patterned sample mounted on a mount and detecting the optical image of the reflected light obtained therefrom. Also included is a display for displaying the optical image detected by this lighting and detecting apparatus; an optical parameter setting device for setting and displaying optical parameters for the lighting and detecting apparatus on the display; and optical parameter adjusting apparatus for adjusting optical parameters set for the lighting and detecting apparatus according to the optical parameters set by the optical parameter setting apparatus; a storage device for storing comparative image data; and a defect detecting device for detecting defects from patterns formed on the sample by comparing the optical image detected by the optical image detecting apparatus with the comparative image data stored in the storage.